With a new approach to design and infotainment, an innovative power train, and cutting-edge safety, the 2016 XC90 SUV plots a new path for Volvo.

The 2016 Volvo XC90 is full of firsts. It's the first full redesign for the model since 2003, and the first full vehicle overhaul since the Swedish automaker became Chinese-owned. It's also the first car to use the new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform that will underpin most future Volvo vehicles. And it's the first automobile to feature Volvo's new tablet-like, button-free Sensus Connect infotainment interface. There are plenty of other impressive aspects to the 2016 XC90 as well, including an elegant but understated interior, and innovative infotainmentfeatures. It's our Editors' Choice for luxury SUVs.

The top-of-the-line Inscription trim that we tested starts at $54,500 and has various wheel options, upgraded interior and exterior trim, extra leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and rear and side window shades.

The Inscription trim level we tested had the Vision Package, the Climate Package with a heads-up display, and the Convenience Package. A $2,500 Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system, $560 metallic paint, a $250 built-in second-row booster seat, $750 21-inch alloy wheels, $1,800 four-corner air suspension, and a destination charge of $995 were also added on for a total sticker price of $66,705—more than $12,000 above the base price.

The redesigned exterior manages to retain a distinct Volvo look while modernizing it with a larger grille, flared lower air intakes, and slimmer headlights accented by a "Thor's Hammer" motif. Similarly, the interior blends wood, aluminum, and leather for a clean and subtle Scandinavian sense of luxury, but has unique touches including a silver, barrel-like drive mode controller and a square engine control.

Connectivity, Navigation, and Interface Connectivity in the Volvo XC90 is provided in a variety of ways, but all require a data plan beyond what most smartphones include. First, there's an onboard modem with six months of free data via AT&T wireless. (Volvo hasn't yet announced pricing following this trial period.) This is similar to Audi and Mercedes-Benz, which also require owners to pay for a data plan to use their cars' built-in apps and other cloud-based connectivity, and to create an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot.

Second, drivers can connect through Bluetooth or USB to use their phone's data plan to access the onboard apps, but only if they have a data-tethering option on their mobile plan, which often costs extra. Of course, you can always listen to, say, Pandora, using a smartphone connected to the car via Bluetooth audio or to the aux-in jack (not via USB), but you'll need to control the app from your device and not the dashboard. The car can also connect to your home Wi-Fi network or a public hotspot, but this is really only practical when the vehicle is parked.

The XC90's navigation system takes full advantage of the vehicle's 9-inch touch screen to display detailed maps. It has connected features, such as local search, real-time traffic, and Send to Car functionality from either the Internet or the Volvo On Call smartphone app. Each of these require a subscription to either the Sensus Connect or the Volvo On Call telematics systems. The navigation system also has innovations like over-the-air map updates, and the ability to input characters for a destination search by using a finger to trace letters on the screen.

With the exception of Tesla Model S, the 2016 Volvo XC90 Sensus Connect interface is the closest an automaker has come to putting a full tablet computer in the dash. But as with any innovation, it takes some getting used to. You can read more about in our full review of Sensus Connect.

Media and Phone Support The audio system in our test car included AM/FM HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, CD, USB, and auxiliary inputs, and Bluetooth audio. The Sensus Connect system has apps for streaming Pandora, Rdio, Stitcher, and TuneIn.

Our test car also had the aforementioned 19-speaker/1,400-watt Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system, and Volvo provided high-resolution audio files on a USB drive for us to sample. We also tested the system by playing standard AAC 128kbps files on an iPod, and can say that it is certainly worth the $2,500 option price when compared with others in this class.

We initially had issues pairing an iPhone 5s and an iPhone 6 via Bluetooth, even while stopped. Once the phones did pair, the 9-inch display made it easy to access phone functions, as did the voice recognition system.

Driver Assists The XC90 Inscription model we tested has perhaps the most comprehensive set of driving-assist features of any vehicle on the road. It came with Volvo's City Safety Collision Avoidance System with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection and Avoidance, lane departure warning and lane keeping aid, a road sign information system that displays speed limits in the instrument cluster, driver alert control to watch for drowsy driving, adaptive headlights, blind spot detection and cross traffic alert, automated parking, and adaptive cruise control with full stop and go. Our test car also had Volvo's new Runoff Road Protection that tightly cinches in occupants and has seats to help absorb the impact to passengers when a vehicle leaves the road.

Performance and Conclusions Having such a small engine power a large SUV is unprecedented, but the XC90 performs a small miracle through a combination of supercharging and turbocharging. It offers impressive power whether passing on the freeway or climbing steep hills. The eight-speed automatic transmission is equally competent and smooth and, unlike with most vehicles, the difference between the Eco and Sport modes was definitely noticeable. The optional air suspension system helps smooth the ride of the large SUV, but on twisty roads we could feel the XC90's bulk in the form of noticeable body roll.

The 2016 Volvo XC90 plots a new path for the Swedish automaker, which has always been known for going its own way in the luxury market, particularly when compared with European rivals. And while the 2016 XC90 faces formidable competition from the Audi Q7, the BWM X5, and the Mercedes-Benz GL, it brings impressive performance, an innovative infotainment system, and cutting-edge driver assists to the segment. If you're looking for something less pricey, the Honda Pilot Elite is our top pick for mainstream SUVs. But the XC90's many innovative features have the potential to make it the first choice in buyers' minds when shopping for a large luxury SUV. That makes it worthy of our Editors' Choice award.

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About the Author

Doug Newcomb is a recognized expert on the subject of car technology within the auto industry and among the automotive and general media, and a frequent speaker at automotive and consumer electronics industry events. Doug began his career in 1988 at the car stereo trade publication Mobile Electronics, before serving as editor of the leading consume... See Full Bio

2016 Volvo XC90

2016 Volvo XC90

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